Today, we’re celebrating a very special milestone—my daughter’s 6th birthday! It feels like just yesterday she was a tiny bundle of joy, and now she’s full of non-stop energy and curiousity. For her special day, we’ll be enjoying her favorite food for dinner: cheese pizza with ranch dip! The grand finale was a Little Mermaid cake with vanilla ice cream on the side.

What’s not to love?! As we prepare to celebrate, I can’t help but reflect on the similarities and differences between how kids and adults celebrate birthdays.

Younger kids are hilarious when it comes to their special day, especially since they often don’t quite grasp the concept of the passage of time. For the past month, all I’ve heard is, “My birthday is tomorrow!” To which either myself or my husband had to gently clarify, “No, it’s this month, but not for another ___ days.”

Unlike adults, who understand that the number of days will decrease as the calendar flips, children are blissfully unaware. So you end up repeating this correction, approximately 600 times or more, until the day finally arrives. At that point, it’s hard to tell who’s more excited for the birthday: them or you! Thankfully, since today’s the day, I won’t have to keep track of the countdown anymore.

Now as for adults, we can be just as amusing in our celebrations. For example, we all have that one friend who turns their birthday into a full-fledged month-long event, often taking it a step too far. Or the friend that absolutely hates their birthday yet expects a gift anyways.

But, regardless of age, all birthday celebrations tend to have a similar structure. Guests gather to honor the birthday person, there’s laughter, and, of course, games or entertainment of some kind. Then when it comes time to unwrap presents, everyone “oohs” and “ahhs” respectfully, while the birthday person takes center stage, proudly showcasing each gift.

Then comes the cake—sweet, delicious cake—after which most guests start to leave, with only the closest friends hanging around to enjoy the inevitable sugar rush together.

One major perk of kids’ parties is the coveted goodie bag you receive at the end. While the contents might not be extravagant, leaving with a little treat always feels like a win! I think it’s time we introduce goodie bags into adult parties as well; because who doesn’t want a little surprise to take home?

Decorating for a children’s birthday bash is a breeze compared to the elaborate setups some adults want. Kids are satisfied with streamers and simple tabletop decorations, while adults often opt for fancy number balloons, balloon arches, and all sorts of glitzy decor. Not only can this be costly, but setting it all up and taking it down can feel like a Herculean task!

As we celebrate my daughter’s special day today, I invite you to join in the joy! The one thing she wants more than anything is her very own bike. She has been saving all her tooth fairy change but is still just a bit short. If you would like to help her reach her goal, you can contribute through the donation form below. Your generosity will help make her birthday even more special and pave the way for new adventures on two wheels! Thank you all!